title: Comparative study of primary and secondary metabolites in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apricot is one of the most popular Prunus species grown in the temperate zone and great variation in the contents of primary and secondary metabolites has been reported in its fruit. However, little is known on the phenolic profiles and antioxidant potential of important local cultivars. The objective of the study was to identify valuable parental lines for breeding of cultivars with high health-promoting effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary metabolites (sugars, organic acids) and secondary metabolites (phenolics) were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) in fruit of 13 apricot cultivars: total sugars ranged from 59.2 to 212.5 g kg(-1) fresh weight (FW) and total organic acids from 4.2 to 20.8 g kg(-1) FW. Four hydroxycinnamic acids and three flavonols were quantified; their content was significantly higher in skin compared to pulp. Similarly, antioxidative potential was significantly higher in skin and ranged from 125.4 to 726.5 mg ascorbic acid equivalents kg(-1) FW. A positive correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant potential was determined. Multivariate analysis subdivided the cultivars into five major groups, mostly influenced by the content of individual and total phenolics as well as the antioxidant potential of apricot skin and pulp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In regard to high phenolic content in connection with antioxidant potential, three cultivars stand out as the richest in analyzed quality parameters: 'Mula Sadik', 'Bergeron' and 'Chuan Zhi Hong'. They also contained high amounts of primary metabolites and should be promoted for further planting and included in apricot breeding programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. valentina.schmitzer@bf.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmitzer
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slatnar
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikulic-Petkovsek
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Veberic
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krska
authors.forename: Franci
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stampar
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000032:analysis; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis*; D044948:Flavonols / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D059808:Polyphenols; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D000975:Antioxidants; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005419:Flavonoids; D044948:Flavonols; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols